Welcome!

This personal homepage addresses everyone
who seeks information about me. On the one hand I like to address those
interested in my professional career as a teacher. On the other hand I have designed this website to
provide information and pictures for friends and family.

“TRIPS” is a collection of several
vacations I have done over the years. Each continent is
broken down in countries or states and the cities I visited with links to more
detailed information and pictures.

The “CASUAL” section provides an overview
about several places I have called home in the last years from the beginnings to
the present.

The "PERSONAL" section gives you some insight in my private
life and important people - my relationship, my family, and friends.

The “CONTACT” page
provides you with basic contact information. If you want to contact me by phone or write me, please send me
an email.

I hope you enjoy browsing through my
website and you find the information you are seeking. I am looking forward to
your comments and improvement suggestions.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Grundmann

News - July 2015

As my last post indicated, the issue of same-sex marriage has been moving
much faster than expected in the United States. Shortly after we married in
January 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the
country, heard oral arguments in the case
Obergefell vs. Hodges. This case will likely become historic in its ruling
and its consequences. The case challenged the constitutionality of state laws
banning civil same-sex marriages and was set out to clarify two questions: can
states deny same-sex couples marriage licenses and do states have to recognize
same-sex marriages performed in other states? On June 26, 2015, 2 years after
United States vs. Windsor and 12 years to the day after
Lawrence vs. Texas, the Supreme court ruled 5-4 in favor of same-sex
marriages across the United States. In the majority opinion, justice Anthony
Kennedy wrote in the concluding paragraph:

"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals
of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union,
two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the
petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure
even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they
disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect
it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope
is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of
civilization's oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of
the law. The Constitution grants them that right."

Following this landmark decision, same-sex marriage - or a better term would
simply be marriage - is now legal in all 50 states of the United States of
America. If this is the final word on this civil rights issue remains to be seen
- the opposition appears to be ready to try and amend the constitution or find
another way to reverse this decision. But for now, Bob and I together with many
other couples - straight and gay - are rejoicing in celebrating this win for
equality. Even the White House was lit in rainbow colors following the ruling.

News - February 2015

Some of you may have heard that marriage equality in the United States has
been advancing at a rapid pace since the landmark Supreme Court decision in
United States vs. Windsor in which part of the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has been ruled unconstitutional thus letting
stand lower court orders to grant civil marriages to same-sex couples. Since
that ruling, more and more states through the judiciary branch have been
striking down same-sex marriage bans across the country - and in
October 2014, the state of Arizona in which we live has joined the wave.
That made us think - now we can no longer say that we cannot get married in the
state where we live, no more excuses to drag our feet. It was a rushed decision
but at least we were able to get married exactly on our 10-year anniversary on
January 14th 2015 with a few family members and friends at our home. A friend of
ours officiated the wedding and we celebrated with BBQ and cupcakes. So hooray -
we finally tied the knot.

News - September 2014

Time flies - everybody is busy and quite a few things have happened over the
past years. It has now been 10 years since I came to the US and 7 years since I
graduated from the University of Florida. These have been amazing years with so
many great memories to be thankful for. But most importantly - for almost the
entire time Bob has been with me, endured quite a bit of obstacles, first the
physical separation while I was still in Gainesville and he started his career
with Intel in Phoenix. Then the various relocations for his work that brought us
to Portland and Sacramento. And the ups and downs of everyday life - last year
was not easy in that regard when I got a pacemaker. But what does not kill us -
makes us stronger! Our relationship is the greatest gift to me and I am
incredibly lucky and thankful to have Bob in my life.

Aside from that - more nerdy news with another two celebrity shots during our
visit to the Phoenix ComiCon this summer.
John
Barrowman is probably best known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in
the BBC series "Doctor
Who" and "Torchwood".
He was such a great guy to get a picture taken with. And we always liked him for
his incredible charm and easy-going nature. The second celebrity we were able to
catch a snap shot with is
Manu Bennett,
a hunky New Zealand actor who played a gladiator in "Spartacus"
and is currently starring in the CW show "Arrow".
He was also incredibly nice and easy to get along with.

News - July 2014

Ever since I can remember, my grandmother Hedi was always there for me. As a
little boy she often rode her bike up to our house to cook meals for my brother
and me and tuck us in for bedtime - after she had warmed our PJs on a radiator
while we were splashing in the bath tub. She often was adamant about cleaning
our rooms - which in my mind undoubtedly had a profound impact on me (not that I
am OCD today ...). All through these years, she never asked much of us, never
put herself in the center, but instead was always there with advise, a good
meal, and the love and dedication that only a grandmother can give. At the age
of 91, she passed away this month. I am lucky to have seen her again on a trip
to Germany in May of this year and sit at her bedside. I will always carry her
in my heart and strive to be an as good soul as she is.

News - May 2011

So my husband and partner Bob and I attended the Phoenix ComiCon, being the
nerds that we are (well, he kind of got me interested in that area although the
seed was planted a long time ago - I always loved SciFi and fantasy movies). The
Phoenix ComiCon attracts between 30,000-40,000 visitors and we only went for one
day in preparation for the upcoming trip to attend the San Diego ComiCon in July
(estimated attendance between 250,000-300,000 people). The hall was packed with
all kinds of nerdy people, some very creatively dressed in their favorite
hero/heroin or villain costume. Of course, when we noticed that there was a
photo shoot with George Takei ( for the non-nerds: he played Mr. Sulu on the
original Star Trek Series and happens to be gay) we could not resist. He is a
really nice person - and Bob surprisingly noticed "he talks like George Takei".
Oh my!